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The new Bellavista Pavilion and the adjoining open spaces represent the first tangible intervention of the Restoration Plan that focuses on the system of bastions and walkways along the perimeter of the Fortezza da Basso in Florence and that will transform this place into the only high-level international exhibition centre located in a historical centre. The design of the new building intends to establish a strong relationship between functional effectiveness and dialogue with the pre-existing architecture, enhancing the monumental context and recovering the system of bastions and walkways along the perimeter of the Fortezza.
Pursuing the realisation of this system on two different levels of the Fortezza da Basso, one of which provides an elevated view, opens up more possibilities for a perceptive dialogue with the city's ensemble of parks, squares, and tree-lined avenues and, with a broader view, with the surrounding landscape, thus contributing to a complete reintegration from an environmental and landscape point of view.
The organisation of the building and the proposed building methods are geared towards energy and environmental sustainability. The design envisages the use of components and systems capable of performing energy production and saving functions, such as solar energy, thermal inertia, capture, storage, and through technical devices that minimise the need of non-renewable energy sources. The design also aims to save water, with systems to reduce water use, and envisages materials with a low environmental impact, based on recycling and reuse.
The project represented a challenge for the designers, who adopted the BIM methodology. To ensure data unambiguity and improve the communication of issues, an ACDat platform was set up for data exchange. Procedures, methods, tools, files, and object encodings were agreed upon with the contracting authority through an Information Management Plan. The document stated how structural and plant elements of each building would be represented graphically and what information it would contain, using the LOIN concept. Geometrical interferences were resolved using specific software. The model was also used to extract quantities, allowing cost management by linking the information to the calculation software.
In addition, great attention was paid to solving interoperability problems between software. For example, regarding the design of the large lattice roof, the structural engineers developed codes using VPL visual programming, which made it possible to link the analytical model, used for the structural calculation, to the geometric model used to produce the tables.
The project has led to the rediscovery of the Fortress through the opening of every part of it, in the conviction that this monumental context is of primary importance for the knowledge of the history of Florence and for reflecting on its future. In particular, the restoration and new use of the large, fortified building must be an opportunity to complete the reversal of its original mandate, completely translating the themes of domination into those of openness and collective affection.
HYDEA is an international design and consulting company with a solid track record in architecture, infrastructure engineering, environment and cultural heritage. Is among the first architectural firms in Italy, measured by revenue, according to Report Norsa. HYDEA presently operates in 20 countries spread over 4 continents and has active branches in PRC and KSA.
Since its foundation, in 1990, HYDEA S.p.A. has favoured a multidisciplinary, integrated approach, which merges tradition with innovation, while taking into consideration the clients’ expectations and valuing the local context.
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